InitialJ
N2necessitycompulsion

～ざるを得ない (zaru wo enai) - Cannot help but / Have no choice but

[Verb nai-stem] + ざるを得ない

Quick answer

[Verb nai-stem] + ざるを得ない means "Cannot help but / Have no choice but to / Must". As a N2 grammar point, it is tested in the JLPT. Detailed examples and a usage explanation are on this page.

Meaning

Cannot help but / Have no choice but to / Must

Explanation

Expresses unavoidable necessity or compulsion.

Examples

事故のため、予定を変更せざるを得なかった。
じこのため、よていをへんこうせざるをえなかった。
Due to the accident, I had no choice but to change the schedule.
事—Thing (abstract)故—Reason定—Fix変—Change得—Get
この状況では、諦めざるを得ない。
このじょうきょうでは、あきらめざるをえない。
In this situation, I cannot help but give up.
状—Form況—Condition諦—Truth得—Get

Practice this grammar

[Verb nai-stem] + ざるを得ない

Which sentence correctly uses "～ざるを得ない (zaru wo enai) - Cannot help but / Have no choice but"?

Vocabulary from these examples

定FixN3変ChangeN3得GetN3故ReasonN3状FormN3況ConditionN2諦Truth変Strange状Form事Thing (abstract)

Last updated Jul 4, 2026